Long lines and delays at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport have become a flashpoint in the competitive United States Senate race in Georgia.
Sen. Jon Ossoff (D-GA) faced immediate criticism from Republican primary candidates in his state for voting against funding the Department of Homeland Security, which has resulted in TSA agents and other essential DHS personnel working without pay. Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) was the lone Democrat who voted to fund the DHS.
“Jon Ossoff and Democrats caused this to protect illegal aliens. That’s it,” Rep. Mike Collins (R-GA) posted to X in response to a <a href="https://x.com/MikeCollinsGA/status/2035727466375905481?s=20" target="_blank" rel="noopener">video</a> showing the lines. The airport had informed travelers to arrive four hours early for their flights on Monday.
Former NCAA football coach and Republican Senate hopeful Derek Dooley pointed out the contrast between Fetterman and Ossoff on the shutdown in a video he posted from the airport on Sunday.
“It&#8217;s ridiculous. That&#8217;s exactly why we need new leadership in D.C. This is nothing about the people. We need leaders who are gonna put their people first,” <a href="https://x.com/DerekDooleyGA/status/2035810012681920769?s=20" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Dooley</a> said.
“Just a bunch of politics. Come on, Ossoff. Fetterman agrees. He&#8217;s not for this. He&#8217;s a Democrat. And listen, where&#8217;s the rest of Congress?” he said, calling for a solution to resolve the shutdown, which started over disagreements about federal immigration enforcement policies.
Rep. Buddy Carter (R-GA) dubbed it the “Schumer-Ossoff Shutdown” in one <a href="https://x.com/RepBuddyCarter/status/2036100550035411339?s=20" target="_blank" rel="noopener">post</a>, and plainly stated in another <a href="https://x.com/RepBuddyCarter/status/2036111733102661690?s=20" target="_blank" rel="noopener">post</a> that the six-hour lines at TSA in Atlanta are “because Georgia Senator Jon Ossoff voted to SHUT DOWN the Department of Homeland Security.”
As negotiations continue in Washington, Senate Democrats have argued that Republicans are not interested in funding TSA. Republicans voted against a move by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer to fund federal airport employees, though it would leave out other agencies within DHS.
“Donald Trump’s obstruction is denying TSA workers pay and creating havoc at airports. While negotiations continue over ICE, there is no reason TSA should be held hostage. Republicans must stop blocking TSA funding immediately,” Ossoff said in a <a href="https://www.ossoff.senate.gov/press-releases/new-senate-republicans-block-tsa-funding-again/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">statement</a> on March 21.
When his campaign was contacted by The Daily Wire for comment on the Republican criticism, they deferred to a comment from the Democratic Party of Georgia.
“Senate Democrats have called for funding TSA for weeks, and Republicans have blocked it every step of the way because they are taking orders from Donald Trump,” DPG Chair Charlie Bailey said in a statement. “We could pay TSA agents and end the chaos at airports across the country if Republicans like Buddy Carter, Mike Collins, and Derek Dooley told their Party to quit standing in the way and get it done.”
A 2017 <a href="https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2017/04/jon-ossoff-race-first-real-battle-millennials-vs-trump-1/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mother Jones</a> story noted that Ossoff has had a pilot&#8217;s license since he was a teen, and described his plans at the time to rent a Cessna plane for a short hiking trip in the Appalachian Mountains with his friends. <a href="https://freebeacon.com/elections/ossoff-whose-father-took-1-mil-from-govt-relief-fund-slams-greedy-business-owners-for-raiding-ppp/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Washington Free Beacon</a> reported in 2020 that Ossoff’s businessman father bought a private plane in 2014.
As for the Republicans in the race, President Donald Trump has yet to make an endorsement ahead of May 19. Whoever wins the race will be in one of the most competitive elections in the country in 2026. Ossoff is the only incumbent Democrat in a “toss-up” race, according to the <a href="https://www.cookpolitical.com/ratings/senate-race-ratings" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Cook Political Report</a>.
“Jon Ossoff cares more about protecting illegals like Laken Riley&#8217;s killer than standing with hardworking Georgians,” National Republican Senatorial Committee Regional Press Secretary Nick Puglia stated. “Ossoff never refuses a chance to use Georgians as political pawns. Ossoff must stop putting illegals first and end his DHS shutdown.”
ICE agents were sent to assist at airports across the nation on Monday, including Hartsfield-Jackson, as hundreds of TSA agents have called out or quit. The Atlanta airport alone had a callout rate of 41.5% on Sunday, according to <a href="https://x.com/krisvancleave/status/2036100167695507499?s=20" target="_blank" rel="noopener">CBS News</a>.

One In Ten Airport Screeners Skip Work As Funding Fight Drags On

Travel Headaches Take On Political Weight — With A Critical Vote In Focus

Battleground Democrat Senator Slammed For Airport Fiasco In His State: 'Ridiculous'

2026 election

Airports

Georgia

homeland security

Immigration

Jon Ossoff

Senate

Transportation

While Georgia law protects kids from transgender surgeries, taxpayers in the state may still be on the hook for procedures in other states thanks to a legal loophole, one Republican lawmaker warns. 
Georgia State Senator Blake Tillery is pushing the state legislature to pass a bill that would end all state funding for transgender surgeries for both adults and minors. Tillery, the chair of the Senate appropriations committee, told The Daily Wire that most Georgians would be “appalled” to learn how their tax dollars were being spent. 
“This is not a hard decision. This is whether or not children should undergo gender-mutilating surgeries performed by adults,” Tillery said. “It&#8217;s whether or not your state taxpayer dollars should be used to pay for gender-altering surgeries that defy biology and for the vast majority of Georgians, the decision here is clear: this isn’t something they support and it&#8217;s not something that should be supported with their taxpayer dollars.”
While state law currently prohibits transgender surgeries on kids, Tillery said that the state is required to cover the transgender surgeries of minors covered under the State&#8217;s Health Benefit Plan. The plan applies to public school teachers and other state employees. Around 660,000 people are currently covered under the plan.
Tillery said a Georgia citizen covered under the State Health Benefit Plan could leave the state and go to a place like New York or California and have a transgender surgery done on their child, paid for by the state. 
He said that “if we don&#8217;t ban our state taxpayer dollars from being used to fund” these surgeries that the “convoluted system of laws requires our state taxpayer funding to be used” for the procedures in other states. 
For the last two years, Tillery, who is running for lieutenant governor, has spearheaded efforts in the Senate to cut off taxpayer funding for transgender surgeries for both children and adults. His first bill to take such action, <a href="https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/legislation/document/20252026/230415">SB 39</a>, passed the Senate, but has yet to be acted on by the House.
Last month, the Senate <a href="https://georgiarecorder.com/2026/02/10/georgia-senate-passes-surprise-ban-on-puberty-blockers-for-minors/">passed</a> a proposal banning puberty blockers for kids, with an amendment to end funding for transgender surgeries. The House has not voted yet on the amended bill. The office of House Speaker Jon Burns did not respond to request for comment. 
The <a href="https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/legislation/document/20252026/242189">amendment </a>to HB 54 was introduced by Tillery and specified that “no state funds shall be expended for health benefits coverage that includes coverage for gender-affirming care” and that “no healthcare facility owned or operated by the state and no physician or other healthcare provider employed by an agency or entity of this state shall provide gender-affirming care.”
He noted that state dollars cannot go to other elective procedures like facelifts or tummy tucks.
“Georgians aren&#8217;t allowed to use their state health benefit plan or private insurance or other elective surgeries,” he said. “Why should their state taxpayer dollars be used to pay for others&#8217; elective surgeries? Especially those that go well against the norm of the majority of Georgia&#8217;s beliefs.”
The push to end all funding for transgender procedures comes as over two dozen Republican-led states have shielded kids from surgeries and hormonal interventions. At the same time, some hospitals have ended their transgender surgery offerings. 
The Nashville-based Vanderbilt Health <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/after-boasting-about-40k-trans-surgeries-vanderbilt-reverses-course">announced</a> last month that it was phasing out offering patients procedures like crafting pseudo-genitalia for gender-confused individuals and removing the breasts of women who identify as men.

Close-up of gloved hands passing the surgical scissors, operating room, hospital

Red State Republican Warns Taxpayers Are On The Hook For Trans Surgeries

Transgender

transgender surgery

Georgia Governor Brian Kemp on Friday suspended the state&#8217;s gas tax amid rising fuel prices as the U.S.-Israeli war in Iran enters its third week.
The move &#8211; the first such relief offered by a U.S. state since the war started on February 28 &#8211; suspends Georgia&#8217;s tax of 33.3 cents per gallon on gas and 37.3 cents per gallon on diesel for 60 days.
The conflict has choked supplies from the Middle East &#8211; one of the world&#8217;s top oil-producing regions &#8211; so severely that U.S. President Donald Trump is considering military options to ensure safe passage of oil tankers through the Strait of Hormuz, a key oil shipping route near Iran.
The U.S. national average gas price on Friday was $3.912 a gallon, the highest since October 2022 and up 31% since the U.S.-Israeli war against Iran began.
Fifty-five percent of respondents in a recent Reuters/Ipsos poll said their household finances had taken at least &#8220;somewhat&#8221; of a hit from the increases in gas prices. Among those seeing an impact, 21% said their finances were affected &#8220;a great deal.&#8221;
Trump told Reuters earlier this month he was not concerned about the rising prices at the pump, saying he expected prices to decrease &#8220;very rapidly&#8221; once the war ended.
Fox News, citing the White House, reported on Friday that the Trump administration was working on options to alleviate the burdens felt by Americans at the pump.
(Reporting by Jasper Ward in Washington; editing by Michelle Nichols)

Gas Prices Dip Lower Ahead Of July 4th Holiday Weekend

Red State Pauses Gas Tax To Ease Pain Of Iran War Price Increase

Economy

Gas Prices

Iran

U.S.

A small town in Georgia announced that it has cut off water to a planned federal immigration detention center.
The city of Social Circle, Georgia, said it placed a lock on the water meter connected to the warehouse that Immigration and Customs Enforcement recently purchased to detain more illegal immigrants, <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/atlanta/news/social-circle-planned-georgia-ice-detention-center-water-cut-off/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">according</a> to CBS News. City officials notified ICE of the lock after the federal agency inquired about &#8220;how to establish an account.&#8221;
&#8220;The lock is there until ICE indicates how water and sewer will be served without exceeding our limited infrastructure capacity,&#8221; the city, which is home to roughly 5,500 residents, said in a statement, according to CBS News.
ICE purchased the facility with plans to house roughly 7,500 to 10,000 detainees, supported by a staff of 2,000 to 2,500, according to CBS News.
Since the city learned of ICE&#8217;s plans, local officials began sharing concerns about a potential strain on water usage, the news outlet reported.
&#8220;Our permit to draw water out of the river is 1 million gallons a day. Our sewer plant can process 660,000 gallons per day and is at capacity,&#8221; the city&#8217;s statement adds. &#8220;Their BLUF analysis indicates a daily water and sewer need that exceeds these amounts.&#8221;
But the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has asserted that the facility will be designed &#8220;to not affect the existing infrastructure adversely in any way.&#8221;
&#8220;The design currently includes on-site mitigation strategies for wastewater treatment. Additional contingencies are in place if required due to non-engineering circumstances,&#8221; an internal DHS document on the plans read, according to CBS News.
ICE has reportedly purchased warehouses across the country to expand its mass deportation effort and its capacity to hold more illegal immigrants.
The agency is spending hundreds of millions of dollars on the expansion thanks to the influx of cash from the One Big Beautiful bill, <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/02/01/ice-detention-centers-jails-noem-trump" target="_blank" rel="noopener">according</a> to Axios. The agency was holding roughly 70,000 detainees as of January.
In a statement to The Daily Wire, an ICE spokesperson slammed &#8220;elected officials who are intentionally trying to obstruct DHS law enforcement,&#8221; and &#8220;wasting law enforcement time, energy, and resources, while putting their own constituents in danger.&#8221;
&#8220;Under President Trump, ICE is building the infrastructure necessary to arrest, detain, and remove criminal illegal aliens from American streets. Sites undergo community impact studies and a rigorous due diligence process to make sure there is no hardship on local utilities or infrastructure prior to purchase,&#8221; the spokesperson said.
&#8220;Trying to prevent ICE from taking violent criminal illegal aliens off the streets and detaining them for removal goes to show who these &#8216;leaders&#8217; really stand with,&#8221; they added.
ICE hopes to increase its detention capacity to hold 92,600 illegal immigrants at a time, The Wall Street Journal <a href="https://www.wsj.com/us-news/ice-plans-38-billion-expansion-of-immigration-detention-facilities-e63926dd?gaa_at=eafs&amp;gaa_n=AWEtsqfDYqI973I1iFfEMBmaZMPl8hlYbNezc_D-yzv8T8SnQo4RSPkLHrxQQhwVdac%3D&amp;gaa_ts=69b9bd1b&amp;gaa_sig=5QOnrYlaLGtC1ReChACA25D687RZBl4NTJ6tl816GgUYIGyo3JsCsVEl-9hPbXV7EV41QVs1iL71q9114piZiw%3D%3D" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a> last month.
“For ICE to sustain the anticipated increase in enforcement operations and arrests in 2026, an increase in detention capacity will be a necessary downstream requirement,” internal documents said, according to the outlet.

ICE Begins Buying ‘Mega’ Warehouse Detention Centers Across US

A Small Town Is Trying to Pull The Plug On A Local ICE Detention Center

Georgia Town Cuts Off Water To Planned ICE Detention Center

Illegal Immigration

Immigration and Customs Enforcement

A Georgia prosecutor said Friday that he has dropped the vehicular homicide charge against a teenager who struck a high school teacher with his car during a late-night prank gone wrong.
Hall County Prosecutor Lee Darragh confirmed the dismissal to <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/charges-dropped-georgia-teens-fatal-high-school-prank-rcna263433">NBC News</a>.
The family of Jason Hughes, 40, the math teacher at North Hall High School who was killed, had previously said they wanted the charges dropped, The Daily Wire <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/a-high-school-prank-turned-deadly-now-the-victims-family-wants-charges-dropped">previously reported</a>.
“This is a terrible tragedy, and our family is determined to prevent a separate tragedy from occurring, ruining the lives of these students,” the family <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/08/us/georgia-teacher-killed-prank.html">said</a> in a statement to The New York Times last week. “This would be counter to Jason’s lifelong dedication of investing in the lives of these children.”
Darragh also dismissed reckless driving, criminal trespass, and littering charges against Jayden Wallace, 18, as well as criminal trespass and littering charges against four other 18-year-olds who were participating in the prank.
The Wallace family attorney said the situation was “an extremely sad and devastating accident,” not a crime, according to NBC News. He also thanked Hughes’ wife for her “remarkable compassion and spirit of forgiveness in the face of the tremendous loss of her husband.”
Hughes, a father of two, died on March 6 after being run over by a teen driver who was there with other students toilet-papering his trees. Hughes slipped near the car because of rain and was accidentally struck by the vehicle, according to <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/family-georgia-teacher-killed-prank-gone-wrong-want-charges-teens-drop-rcna262482">NBC News</a>.
The teens stopped immediately and tried to administer first aid, but Hughes died of his injuries.
The prank was a tradition at the school, Hughes’ family <a href="https://abcnews.com/video/130894885/">told</a> ABC News in a statement. Hughes knew the students were coming and was excited to catch them.
“The family wants to make clear that they knew these kids and they loved them, and these kids loved the Hugheses,” the family said. “This was not a malicious act.”
A <a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/in-memory-of-jason-hughes-support-his-family-4zzkn">GoFundMe</a> for the Hughes family has raised almost $490,000 as of Saturday.
“We are thankful for the outpouring of prayers and support as we grieve the loss of Jason,” the family told ABC. “We ask that you continue to pray for our family and also for the students involved in the accident along with their families. Please join us in extending grace and mercy to them as Christ has done for us.”

Photo of a blue metal lockers along a nondescript hallway in a typical US High School. No identifiable information included and nobody in the hall.

Prosecutor Drops Charges Against Teens In Tragic Prank-Gone-Wrong Death

Courts

Law Enforcement

Tragedy

A Georgia judge has denied a new trial for Laken Riley&#8217;s convicted killer, Jose Ibarra, an illegal immigrant from Venezuela.
Superior Court Judge H. Patrick Haggard denied the Tren de Aragua gang member&#8217;s request for a new trial, writing in a Monday order that the evidence against him was both &#8220;overwhelming and powerful,&#8221; <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/atlanta/news/judge-ruling-new-trial-jose-ibarra-laken-riley-murder-conviction/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">according</a> to CBS News.
Ibarra was found guilty on ten charges, including murder, kidnapping, and aggravated assault with intent to rape, for killing Riley while she was jogging on the University of Georgia campus in Athens. The Venezuelan national was subsequently sentenced to life in prison without parole in 2024.
<div id="attachment_831201" style="width: 310px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-831201" class="wp-image-831201 size-medium" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/11/GettyImages-2064210746-300x200.jpg" alt="Supporters of former US President and 2024 presidential hopeful Donald Trump hold images of Laken Riley before he speaks at a &quot;Get Out the Vote&quot; rally in Rome, Georgia, on March 9, 2024. Riley, a nursing student, has become the face of immigration reform after her murder allegedly by an illegal immigrant on February 22, 2024. (Photo by Elijah Nouvelage / AFP) (Photo by ELIJAH NOUVELAGE/AFP via Getty Images)" width="300" height="200" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/11/GettyImages-2064210746-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/11/GettyImages-2064210746-864x576.jpg 864w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/11/GettyImages-2064210746-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/11/GettyImages-2064210746.jpg 1024w" sizes=" (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />ELIJAH NOUVELAGE/AFP via Getty Images</div>
Ibarra crossed the southern border illegally in September 2022 in El Paso, Texas, which was a popular smuggling route for the Venezuelan prison gang. He was subsequently released into the United States while his immigration case was pending and traveled to New York City, where he lived in a city-run shelter, <a href="https://nypost.com/2024/03/08/us-news/migrant-charged-with-murdering-laken-rileys-easy-path-to-us/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">according</a> to the New York Post.
While in New York, Ibarra was arrested for riding a gas-powered moped with a child and no helmet or restraint, but was released without a detainer being enforced.
He then fled to Georgia, where his brother was living, and killed 22-year-old Riley on February 22, 2024.
Riley fought for her life, refusing &#8220;to be his rape victim,&#8221; prosecutors said, adding that Ibarra &#8220;bashed her skull in with a rock repeatedly,&#8221; <a href="https://nypost.com/2024/11/15/us-news/laken-riley-murder-trial-to-begin-friday-in-georgia/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">according</a> to the New York Post.
Ibarra&#8217;s roommate at the time later testified that he had received a taxpayer-funded ticket to fly south, <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2024/11/18/us/laken-riley-murder-trial.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">according</a> to The New York Times. At the time, New York City was offering migrants travel accommodations to leave the city as it faced a crush of new arrivals from the border.
Riley&#8217;s killing became a flashpoint in the national immigration debate. President Donald Trump signed the Laken Riley Act in 2025, requiring federal detention for illegal immigrants arrested for some crimes. He recently honored Riley&#8217;s parents during an event at the White House with Angel Families who&#8217;ve tragically lost loved ones at the hands of illegal immigrants.
Riley&#8217;s mother, Allyson Phillips, praised Trump&#8217;s work on border security, saying, &#8220;This happened to my family&#8230;and Laken was the most responsible, hardworking, kind, selfless, beautiful Christian and she wasn&#8217;t somebody that put herself in bad positions, she didn&#8217;t make bad choices, she was just a good girl.&#8221;
&#8220;She&#8217;s one in a ton of people that have suffered at the hands of illegal immigrants, she&#8217;s not the only one,&#8221; she added.

Jose Ibarra Returns To Court

Judge Denies New Trial For Laken Riley’s Illegal Immigrant Killer

illegal immigrant

Laken Riley

Tren De Aragua

Trump-backed Republican Clay Fuller and Democrat Shawn Harris will presumably face off in an April 7 runoff special election in former Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene’s Georgia district, based on the results available as of Tuesday evening.
Greene resigned from her position representing the 14th Congressional District on Jan. 5 after a public falling out with President Donald Trump over the Epstein files, despite once being close allies.
The special election comes as Speaker Mike Johnson’s (R-LA) Republican majority remains extremely slim, as Rep. Kevin Kiley (I-CA) announced that he would still caucus with Republicans, but would leave the party. This leaves only 217 registered Republicans in the House.
Fuller is the Lookout Mountain Judicial Circuit’s District Attorney and a Lieutenant Colonel in the Air National Guard, according to his campaign website.
&#8220;We have to come together and beat the Democrat, Shawn Harris, in this race, and go and win this thing on April 7th,&#8221; Fuller said in a video on Wednesday morning.
His website also lists an “America First economy” and supporting for mass deportations as someone his top issues.
“And I have Fuller on my side. I know that I got my Fuller. You better win that election,” Trump said during an economy-focused visit to Rome, Georgia, which is in the district, in February.
He was also backed by Johnson, who touted his runoff advancement on Tuesday night.
“Congratulations to Trump-endorsed and our endorsed candidate, [Clay Fuller], for advancing to the [GA-14] April 7 runoff!” Johnson posted.
There are two other vacancies in the House, one in a Republican-leaning seat and another in a Democratic-leaning seat, with those special elections in the coming months.
Harris, a farmer and retired brigadier general, wrote in an X post on Tuesday night that “Marjorie Taylor Greene isn’t on the ballot, but the fallout from her feud still is.”
“This race isn’t about loyalty to Trump. It’s about loyalty to the voters of Northwest Georgia,” he wrote. “I’m running to serve the people here at home — not chase anyone in Washington.”
The Democrat has gotten the attention of some high profile Democrats, like former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg.
&#8220;There&#8217;s no such thing as a permanently red state or district, and I believe Shawn Harris has the background and values to bring people together and win,&#8221; Buttigieg said in a February statement. &#8220;Shawn is running because he knows the status quo in Washington isn&#8217;t working for people in the district, and he&#8217;s ready to get to work to lower prescription drug prices, pass a farm bill that works for rural Georgia, and defend Medicare and Medicaid.&#8221;
Former State Sen. Colton Moore and Brian Stover were other key Republicans in the special election, but Fuller ultimately earned the Trump nod in February, with the president writing on Truth Social that Fuller is “strongly supported by the most Highly Respected MAGA Warriors in Georgia, and many Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives.”
In November, Greene shared a <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/marjorie-taylor-greene-to-resign-from-congress" target="_blank" rel="noopener">video</a> explaining her decision, saying that “loyalty should be a two-way street.”
“I’ve been blessed to represent the 14th District of Georgia for five years. That district is filled with some of the most wonderful, kind-hearted, God fearing, patriotic, hardworking people you will ever meet. Good, regular, common Americans,” the congresswoman said.
“Because my self worth is not defined by a man, but instead by God, who created everything in existence,” Greene added at the time.
The district is deeply Republican, with Greene winning re-election in 2024 with over 64% of the vote compared with Kamala Harris’ roughly 36%. Trump won the district with 68% of the vote, and he won the battleground state of Georgia with just under 51%.
All eyes will remain on the Peach State through November, as the United States Senate race is considered a “toss-up,” according to the Cook Political Report.
Sen. Jon Ossoff (D-GA) will face off against either Reps. Mike Collins, Buddy Carter, or former football coach Derek Dooley, depending on who wins the Republican primary on May 19. Trump has yet to endorse a candidate in the race.

President Trump Participates In National Day Of Prayer Event At White House

Top Two Candidates Emerge In Runoff For Marjorie Taylor Greene’s Open Congressional Seat

Congress

Elections

Marjorie Taylor Greene

Mike Johnson

Politics

The family of a beloved teacher killed during a high school prank gone wrong is speaking out, saying they want to see charges against the teens dropped following the tragic accident.
Jason Hughes, 40, was a math teacher at North Hall High School in Georgia. He died last Friday night after accidentally being run over by a teen driver who was there with other students putting toilet paper in his trees. Hughes slipped near the car and was then accidentally hit by the vehicle, according to <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/family-georgia-teacher-killed-prank-gone-wrong-want-charges-teens-drop-rcna262482">NBC News</a>. 
The teen driver was accompanied by four other students in two separate cars. The teens immediately stopped and tried to administer first aid, but Hughes, who is a father of two, succumbed to his injuries.
The family <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/08/us/georgia-teacher-killed-prank.html">told</a> The New York Times in a statement that they don’t wish to ruin the students’ lives for what amounts to a tragic mistake. 
“This is a terrible tragedy, and our family is determined to prevent a separate tragedy from occurring, ruining the lives of these students,&#8221; they said in the statement. “This would be counter to Jason’s lifelong dedication of investing in the lives of these children.&#8221;
Hughes&#8217; family <a href="https://abcnews.com/video/130894885/">told</a> ABC News that he knew about the prank and was excited about it, which is why he went outside to see the teens. 
“The family wants to make clear that they knew these kids and they loved them and these kids loved the Hugheses. This was not a malicious act,” they told the outlet in a statement. 
“We are thankful for the outpouring of prayers and support as we grieve the loss of Jason. We ask that you continue to pray for our family and also for the students involved in the accident along with their families. Please join us in extending grace and mercy to them as Christ has done for us.” 
The 18-year-old driver was charged with first-degree vehicular homicide, reckless driving, criminal trespass, and littering, NBC reported. The other four teens involved were each charged with criminal trespass and littering.
District Attorney Lee Darragh said of dropping the charges, &#8220;It is much too early in this process. I’ll not be commenting until the closure of the case.&#8221;
A <a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/in-memory-of-jason-hughes-support-his-family-4zzkn">GoFundMe</a> for the Hughes family has raised over $400,000 as of Tuesday morning. 
“Jason’s life was a blessing to so many, and his untimely passing will be indescribably difficult for his wife and two young boys for years to come. Please use this opportunity to come alongside them in their time of immediate need and future planning for his children,” the description said.

High School

Teacher Killed In High School Prank — Why His Family Doesn’t Want Students Charged

Family Of Teacher Killed During Prank Gone Wrong Wants Charges Against Teens Dropped

Death

Teacher

Teenagers

The Atlanta Hawks are apparently making the most out of International Women&#8217;s Month by teaming up with a famous strip club as part of their promotional &#8220;Magic City Monday&#8221; game on March 16.
The NBA team put out a release that stated the &#8220;Magic City Monday&#8221; game will honor one of Atlanta&#8217;s &#8220;iconic cultural institutions&#8221; with special food and a halftime performance by Atlanta great, T.I.
&#8220;The Hawks have worked with Magic City to bring the &#8216;best of&#8217; the phenomena for fans in attendance at the award-winning State Farm Arena,&#8221; the statement read.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Magic on a Monday? 👀 <a href="https://twitter.com/MagicCity?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MagicCity</a> <a href="https://t.co/xwWrGyVE20">pic.twitter.com/xwWrGyVE20</a>
— Atlanta Hawks (@ATLHawks) <a href="https://twitter.com/ATLHawks/status/2027060189606604916?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 26, 2026</a></blockquote>
&#8220;We doin’ this one for the city&#8230; Magic City,&#8221; T.I. said.
The famous Atlanta strip club has been around since the &#8217;80s and is known for more than just its strippers. Magic City is famous for its lemon pepper wings, which will be featured at the &#8220;Magic City Monday&#8221; game in a few weeks.
“From the food to the music and the exclusive merchandise, we are excited to team up with Magic City to create an authentic, True to Atlanta-inspired game experience,” <a href="https://www.nba.com/hawks/news/hawksto-celebrate-atlantas-iconic-cultural-institution-magic-city-during-the-teams-magic-city-monday-game-against-the-orlando-magic-on-monday-march-16">said</a> Hawks Executive Vice President &amp; Chief Marketing Officer Melissa Proctor.
The wings are apparently so good that during the NBA bubble season in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic, former Los Angeles Clippers guard Lou Williams broke protocol to visit Magic City for the wings and was forced to miss games because of the mandatory 10-day quarantine the league required.
Not all NBA players are excited for this collab during a month that&#8217;s meant to celebrate women&#8217;s accomplishments. San Antonio Spurs center Luke Kornet penned an <a href="https://lukekornet.medium.com/concerning-the-atlanta-hawks-0f07c62ea65e">article</a> asking Atlanta to cancel &#8220;Magic City Monday&#8221; theme night because he said the promotion doesn&#8217;t protect or esteem women and would reflect poorly on the NBA.
&#8220;The NBA should desire to protect and esteem women, many of whom work diligently every day to make this the best basketball league in the world,&#8221; Kornett wrote. &#8220;We should promote an atmosphere that is protective and respectful of the daughters, wives, sisters, mothers, and partners that we know and love.&#8221;
Kornet insists that women in the adult entertainment industry often experience abuse and harassment. He encouraged the league to hold teams to a higher standard when it comes to in-game partnerships. The Spurs center added that many people around the league were shocked by the Hawks&#8217; decision.
&#8220;We desire to provide an environment where fans of all ages can safely come and enjoy the game of basketball and where we can celebrate the history and culture of communities in good conscience,&#8221; Kornet said. &#8220;The celebration of a strip club is not conduct aligned with that vision.&#8221;
The Hawks did not refer to Magic City as a strip club in the release, but instead focused on other aspects of the establishment.
It&#8217;s fitting that the visiting team for the March 16 game is the Orlando Magic. Tipoff is set for 7:00 p.m. ET.

Credit: Erica Denhoff/Icon Sportswire/Prince Williams/Wire Image via via Getty Images

NBA Team To Honor Strip Club During International Women’s Month

NBA Team Honoring Strip Club With 'Magic City Monday' Night During International Women's Month

Atlanta Hawks

Magic City

Sports

Immigration is emerging as a central issue in Georgia&#8217;s competitive Senate race as the second anniversary of Laken Riley&#8217;s murder approaches. Riley, a nursing student, was killed in Athens, Georgia, by an illegal immigrant in a case that sparked national debate over border security.
The National Republican Senatorial Campaign Committee released a digital ad on Friday, shared with The Daily Wire, targeting Sen. Jon Ossoff (D-GA) over his immigration record. The spot accuses Ossoff of voting &#8220;in lockstep with Joe Biden and Kamala Harris,&#8221; arguing their policies flooded our borders &#8220;with dangerous criminal illegals.”
&#8220;Jon Ossoff voted for Joe Biden and Kamala Harris&#8217; open borders policies every step of the way, and the consequences have been deadly for victims like Laken Riley. Ossoff fights for criminal illegals and Georgians pay the price,&#8221; NRSC Regional Press Secretary Nick Puglia said.
The ad also highlights comments Ossoff made in 2020 during a virtual event, saying, &#8220;I don&#8217;t think it&#8217;s the role of local law enforcement to enforce federal immigration law.”
<iframe loading="lazy" title="Jon Ossoff Fights for Criminal Illegals" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/fQsH1SJTb8k?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>
Ossoff ultimately voted in favor of the Laken Riley Act along with some other Democrats. However, Republicans criticized him earlier in the legislative process, arguing that he and other Democrats opposed the proposal when it was previously tied to broader spending negotiations in March 2024, according to <a href="https://www.wccsradio.com/2026/01/29/vulnerable-dems-support-for-alex-pretti-collides-with-laken-riley-act-anniversary/?utm_source=chatgpt.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">WCCS.</a> The bill later passed with bipartisan support in January 2025.
In January, Puglia said Ossoff “refused to champion the Laken Riley Act and only flip-flopped on the life-saving legislation when it was politically expedient for him.”
The Senate fight comes as the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) faces a funding lapse amid disagreements between Republicans and Democrats on federal immigration enforcement tactics. While ICE, which falls under DHS, is still largely funded under the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” signed by President Donald Trump last year, the broader standoff has affected other DHS agencies, including FEMA, TSA, and the Coast Guard.
“When federal police are wearing masks, that’s a real bad sign,” Ossoff said <a href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DTeAySsjXiM/?hl=en" target="_blank" rel="noopener">recently</a> on the campaign trail. Democrats have called for ending the use of face coverings by federal immigration authorities during enforcement operations.
The Cook Political Report currently ranks the Georgia Senate race as a toss-up, placing it among the most competitive contests in the country alongside Maine, North Carolina, and Michigan.
On the Republican side, Reps. Mike Collins, Buddy Carter, and former University of Tennessee football coach Derek Dooley are competing in the Senate primary. Georgia GOP Gov. Brian Kemp backs Dooley, while Trump has yet to endorse a candidate.
The Daily Wire reached out to the Ossoff campaign for comment.
Trump visited Georgia on Thursday amid heightened political activity, including a special election to replace former Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA), a once-staunch ally of the president who had a falling-out with him late last year.

US-VOTE-POLITICS-TRUMP

She Should Still Be Here — Laken Riley’s Case Reshapes Crucial Senate Race

President Donald Trump suggested on Wednesday that Atlanta might be the next American city to see a surge of federal resources and personnel to help rein in rampant crime.
Trump floated the possibility during a Black History Month event at the White House on Wednesday afternoon: “You need help in Atlanta.&#8221;
&#8220;Atlanta. Atlanta. We could take care of Atlanta. I&#8217;ll tell you what, you oughta get them to call me. We could take care of Atlanta so fast,” he said to applause. “They don&#8217;t want to call. They don’t want to. They don’t want to call cause they don’t want to admit it, and they’ll never fix it themself,” he added.
“Don&#8217;t forget, we move people out. We just don’t go in and, you know, be tough guys. We move people out. We take career criminals and we get them out, we bring them back to the country from where they came. And think of it, 90% of the crime is caused by 2% of the people. So when you get the criminals out, you solve a lot of problems,” he continued.
The Daily Wire reached out to the City of Atlanta for comment, but has not yet received a response. The Trump administration has sent National Guard troops, as well as other federal law enforcement agencies, to cities like Washington, D.C., New Orleans, and Memphis in hopes of bringing down high crime rates.
There has been significant pushback in many blue cities over federal surges, but the president made it clear in a Dec. 31 Truth Social post that he is undeterred: it’s “only a question of time” before federal authorities “come back &#8230; when crime begins to soar again,” he wrote, according to <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2026/02/13/national-guard-deployments-updates/88646816007/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">USA Today</a>.
“We are removing the National Guard from Chicago, Los Angeles, and Portland, despite the fact that CRIME has been greatly reduced by having these great Patriots in those cities, and ONLY by that fact. Portland, Los Angeles, and Chicago were GONE if it weren’t for the Federal Government stepping in,” Trump posted to Truth Social on Dec. 31.
&#8220;It is hard to believe that these Democrat Mayors and Governors, all of whom are greatly incompetent, would want us to leave, especially considering the great progress that has been made???” he added.
Although murders have gone down in the Georgia city, robberies and assaults have been on the rise, <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/atlanta/news/homicide-rate-drops-in-atlanta-but-rising-assaults-and-robberies-leave-police-department-concerned/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">CBS Atlanta</a> reported in January.
Trump is scheduled to visit Rome, Georgia, an hour northwest of Atlanta, for an economy-focused address. Rome is a part of the district left vacant by former Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA), who resigned from Congress earlier this year after a public falling out with the president. A special election is set for March 10, with a runoff to follow on April 7 if none of the candidates in the open race obtain over half of the vote. The president has endorsed Republican Clay Fuller to be Greene’s successor.
“He is strongly supported by the most Highly Respected MAGA Warriors in Georgia, and many Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives,” Trump posted to Truth Social on Feb. 4.

President Trump Visits Law Enforcement And National Guard During D.C. Crime Crackdown

Trump Floats Atlanta As Next City For National Guard Surge: ‘They’ll Never Fix It Themselves’

Atlanta

Crime

National Guard

Authorities say an illegal immigrant fleeing Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers in Savannah, Georgia, caused a vehicle collision on Monday that resulted in the death of a beloved special education teacher.
ICE agents were attempting to pull over Guatemalan national Oscar Vasquez Lopez, 38, when he made &#8220;a reckless U-turn&#8221; and ran a red light before colliding with Dr. Linda Davis&#8217; vehicle, <a href="https://www.ice.gov/news/releases/deadly-evasion-illegal-immigrant-flees-ice-crashes-car-and-kills-innocent-driver" target="_blank" rel="noopener">according</a> to the federal agency. Davis was pronounced dead at the scene.
“This vehicular homicide is an absolute tragedy and deadly consequence of politicians and the media constantly demonizing ICE officers and encouraging those here illegally to resist arrest — a felony,” Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said in a statement.
“These dangerous tactics are putting people’s lives at risk. Fleeing from and resisting federal law enforcement is not only a crime but extraordinarily dangerous and puts oneself, our officers and innocent civilians at risk. Now, an innocent bystander has lost their life,&#8221; McLaughlin added.
Vasquez Lopez unlawfully crossed the border at an unknown time, according to DHS. He then received a deportation order in 2024.
On Monday, DHS said Vasquez Lopez was in custody at a local hospital, where he was being treated for minor injuries. The Chatham County Police Department has charged him with vehicular homicide and multiple traffic offenses, including reckless driving, driving without a valid license, and failure to obey traffic control devices.
Davis&#8217;s employer, Hesse K-8 School, released a <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Hessek8school/posts/pfbid0FHRT7wrfKdFP2oKuVWmu6b7cD631f5MnaeMgpSfmi4TtuiC51yb6jqinFzHg8yRfl?ref=embed_post" target="_blank" rel="noopener">statement</a> on Facebook on Monday, describing the deceased as &#8220;a beloved member of our school family,&#8221; adding that &#8220;her loss has affected us deeply.&#8221;
The crash occurred less than a mile from the school, which was holding a work day for teachers while students stayed home for the President&#8217;s Day holiday, <a href="https://www.wjcl.com/article/ice-chase-crash-savannah-georgia/70390635" target="_blank" rel="noopener">according</a> to local news channel WJCL.
&#8220;We all should expect and try to understand that there will be a variety of emotions and responses as to what has occurred. The most important thing we can do is to be supportive and encourage an open expression of feelings,&#8221; the school said.
The school is offering counseling for students and staff &#8220;who need special attention and support&#8221; in the wake of Davis&#8217; &#8220;tragic&#8221; death.
Several community members shared their condolences in the comments on the school&#8217;s Facebook post.
One woman said Davis had &#8220;the most beautiful and infectious smile and personality that lit up everything and everyone around her.&#8221; Another who said she grew up with Davis described her as an &#8220;amazing&#8221; sibling to her three sisters.

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How A Reckless Attempt To Evade ICE Led To Death Of Beloved Special Ed Teacher

Georgia Special Ed Teacher Killed By Illegal Immigrant Fleeing ICE

deportation

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